One of William Somerset Maugham’s more famous novels is called The Razor’s Edge, and for those following the author’s equine namesake in the Western Cape probably understand that feeling.
Trained by Justin Snaith, Somerset Maugham has been expensive to follow, especially in his last start where he went off 19-20 favourite and failed to catch Alter Ego over 1400m at Durbanville.
There were excuses for that loss – jockey Richard Fourie dropped his crop and his mount pulled in the early stages.
But the stars should align for the three-year-old son of Trippi in Race 4 at Kenilworth Tuesday, a Maiden Plate over 1600m. The way he ran last time Somerset Maugham will appreciate both the extra 200m and the change in course.
He is strongly expected to recoup the losses and is a confident banker in all of the exotics.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Carlo Collodi, 6 Fort Red, 9 Bereave, 1 Double Charge
Race 2: 2 Ohwhatanight, 5 Glitter In The Air, 1 Sovereign Rose, 6 Grand Princess
Race 3: 5 Myhopesanddreams, 3 Silver De Lange, 6 Sudden Star, 1 Knights Templar
Race 4: 1 Somerset Maugham, 3 Bezos, 2 Kaptein, 4 Blingking
Race 5: 3 Do Angels Cry, 2 Regina Isabella, 1 Rosemary Meadow, 7 Magnetic Dime
Race 6: 3 More Magic, 6 Sir Michael, 4 Sing Out Loud, 5 Herodotus
Race 7: 6 Bold Diva, 5 Rewrite The Stars, 4 Catchafallingstar, 2 Elusive Fortune
Race 8: 12 Opera Swing, 4 Green Light Gal, 6 Affirmation, 13 Orferd’s Flash
BEST BET
Race 4 No 1 Somerset Maugham
VALUE BET
Race 8 No 12 Opera Swing
BEST SWINGER
Race 3 3×5
BIPOT
R216
Leg 1: 3, 6, 9
Leg 2: 1, 2, 5
Leg 3: 3, 5
Leg 4: 1
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3
Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 6
PLACE ACUMMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5
Leg 2: 5
Leg 3: 1
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3
Leg 5: 3, 4, 6
Leg 6: 4, 5, 6
Leg 7: 3, 4, 6, 8
PICK 6
R1344
Leg 1: 3, 5
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 6: 2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13
JACKPOT 1
R112
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R672
Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 7
Leg 2: 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Leg 4: 2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 13